Location: Department digital archives
Object: Photo of new and returning graduate students and faculty at the SAGE Welcome Back Party, 22 August 2014
Observations: 1) Looking for photos of Professor Emeritus Jerry Dees surfaced other photos from years past, including this one from August 2014 that features an array of graduate students and faculty assembled in Professor Emeritus Jim Machor‘s backyard for the department’s annual Welcome Back Party. 2) Initially hosted only by the Student Association of Graduates of English (SAGE) with a faculty member lending a home or backyard to the cause, by 2014 the annual event included additional support from the department for food and non-alcoholic beverages in recognition of the service that the gathering provided to the department community. Following the pandemic, when we returned to an in-person party in 2022, we moved on campus for easier access. 3) It’s wonderful to see in this snapshot so many MA alums (Sierra, Stephen, Rob P, Rob S, Henry, Lexi, Ian, Heather, to name a few) who have discovered personal and professional success — and, in some cases, who have shared their stories on our blog. 4) We look forward to working with our current graduate students, whom we welcomed at this year’s gathering, as they complete their MA degrees and make plans for the future!
— Karin Westman, Department Head
K-State English 